title: Rehabilitative approach in patients with ring scotoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the rehabilitative approach in patients with ring scotoma. A central scotoma is characteristic for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Sometimes patients with AMD maintain a residual central vision area within the scotoma (ring scotoma).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, nonrandomized case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with AMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A formal low-vision assessment was performed for all study patients. The assessment included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, reading speed, and microperimetry. All patients were provided a low-vision assessment to satisfy patients' needs. Devices were prescribed accordingly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BCVA found was 0.4 logMAR (SD 0.1). All had central and stable fixation. Residual central retinal area size and sensitivity measured 2.4° (SD 0.8) and 3.1 dB (SD 0.8), respectively. Twenty patients achieved better vision with optical magnification in the eye with ring scotoma. Mean reading speed achieved was 50.2 words/min (SD 20.9). A linear correlation was found for reading speed with both central area sensitivity (r² = 0.5, p < 0.05) and contrast sensitivity (r² = 0.3, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with AMD with ring scotoma, moderate amounts of magnification seem to provide satisfactory rehabilitation outcomes. Central retinal spared area sensitivity may predict reading speed outcomes, whereas residual central area size is likely to be useful in determining magnification.
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Services and Research for the Prevention of Blindness and Rehabilitation of Low Vision Patients, International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, Italia onlus, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: f.amore@iapb.it.
authors.forename: Filippo M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Amore
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Rossi
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cruciani
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011932:Reading; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology; D012607:Scotoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology